380 MW additional power to meet summer demand

The Orissa government has chalked out plans to source 380 Mw additional power to meet the peak summer demand starting from March. It has also announced that there will not be any power cut during the coming summer season.

Announcing the decision of the government, the state energy minister Surya Narayan Patro told the media that the present demand of the state is about 2060Mw and the state is able to meet the demand fully.

While 500 Mw is sourced through hydro power generation, 800 Mw is obtained from thermal power. The state is drawing 630Mw from Central pool and 130 Mw from captive power plants (CPPs). Since the average demand in summer is likely to increase to 2250 Mw, this will require sourcing about 200 Mw to 250 Mw additional power.

Accordingly, the government has chalked out an alternative plan to meet the peak demand, which includes sourcing 150 Mw from Bhushan Steel and Power, 100Mw from 13 captive power plants (CPPs), 30 Mw from Meenakshi Power and about 100 Mw from Nalco.

Nalco has written to the state government, if coal supply could be ensured to the company, it will be able to supply 100 Mw to the state. Meenakshi power is expected to start generation from this month.

He said, the chief minister Naveen Patnaik had earlier written to the Union power ministry to allow 15 percent of the unallocated power of NTPC to the state to meet the situation. The Union power ministry has stated that Orissa will not be allowed to draw power from the unallocated quota as its power situation is comfortable with the deficit being 1.7 percent in non-peak times and 2.7 percent in peak time.

Asked if the CPPs will agree to supply their surplus power at the concessional price, the minister said, Gridco is in talks with the CPPs and has floated tenders for the purpose. He hoped that the problem will be sorted out soon. The CPPs may be offered a price which includes the cost of generation and 10 percent profit margin, Patro indicated.

He said, due to low rainfall in the upper catchment areas of the reservoirs, the water level has declined.